Week Ending June 2, 2013. Songs: Robin Thicke & Mom

Chart Watch

Paul GreinJune 5, 2013

Robin Thicke lands his first top 10 hit as “Blurred Lines” jumps from #12 to #6 in its sixth week on the Hot 100. Thicke’s mother, Gloria Loring, cracked the top 10 in August 1986 with “Friends And Lovers,” a collabo with Carl Anderson, an African American singer and actor. (The elegant pop ballad peaked at #2.) “Friends And Lovers” took off due to exposure on the soap opera Days Of Our Lives, on which Loring was a regular from 1980 to 1986.

Several other current stars who have landed top 10 hits are the offspring of parents who also had one or more top 10 hits. Among them: Enrique Iglesias, son of Julio Iglesias; Miley Cyrus, daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus; and Jaden Smith, son of Will Smith.

It’s interesting that Loring’s biggest hit was an interracial duet, because Thicke’s entire persona and musical style is based on blurring racial lines, to borrow his current song title. And he has been very successful at it, too. While this is his first top 10 hit on the Hot 100, he has had four top 10 hits on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, including the #1 hits “Lost Without U” and “Sex Therapy.”

Thicke’s style used to be called “blue-eyed soul,” but that sound is no longer the semi-novelty that that term suggests. With Thicke joining Justin Timberlake and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, it may well be the hottest sound of the year.

Thicke’s current hit bears a striking similarity to Marvin Gaye’s “Got To Give It Up (Pt. I),” which cracked the Hot 100 in April 1977—five weeks after Thicke was born. (The sexy smash reached #1 in June.) A fan of Gaye’s hit noted the similarity in this comment on YouTube: “Robin Thicke jacked this beat and tweaked it. Those who tasted the old school knew. Not hatin’ though. I’m just glad he didn’t ruin it. LOL.”

“Blurred Lines” enters The Official U.K. Singles Chart at #1. It’s Thicke’s first #1 in the U.K. The song sold 190K copies in its first week on sale in the U.K., which is the largest one-week tally so far this year. “It is an honour and a pleasure to be #1 in the U.K.,” Thicke told OfficialCharts.com. “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of, and I am so grateful to all the people who made this dream come true.”

“Blurred Lines” features T.I. and Pharrell Williams. This is the 11th top 10 hit for T.I.; the sixth for Williams, who has two songs in this week’s top 10. Williams is also featured on Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” which jumps from #4 to #3. (The song is #1 on Dance/Electronic Songs for the third week.) Williams co-wrote “Get Lucky.” He produced and co-wrote “Blurred Lines.”

“Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton holds at #1 for the fifth week. The duo’s previous hit, “Thrift Shop,” logged six weeks at #1. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis is the first act to top the Hot 100 for 11 or more weeks in a calendar year since Adele led the way for 12 weeks in 2010. Furthermore, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis is the only act to appear in the 10 on the Hot 100 every week so far this year. Bruno Mars, of whom this was also true through last week, drops out this week.

“Can’t Hold Us” is #1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for the seventh week. “Same Love” (featuring Mary Lambert) jumps from #72 to #65 in its 12th week on the Hot 100.

Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors” jumps from #3 to #2. This surpasses the #3 peak of “Suit & Tie” (featuring Jay-Z), the lead single from The 20/20 Experience. This is Timberlake’s highest-charting hit since T.I.’s “Dead And Gone,” on which he was featured, spent five weeks at #2 in early 2009. “Mirrors” is #1 on the all-format Radio Songs chart for the third week.

“Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly holds at #5 for the second week. The song spends its 14th week at #1 on Hot Country Songs. That’s the longest run at #1 since Buck Owens’ “Love’s Gonna Live Here” spent 16 weeks on top from October 1963 through February 1964. It’s the longest run at #1 by an ongoing duo since “Slipping Around” by Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely logged 17 weeks on top in 1949-1950.

Selena Gomez’s “Come & Get It,” which dips from #6 to #7, tops the 1 million mark in digital sales this week. It’s her first million-seller on her own, following three fronting The Scene: “Love You Like A Love Song” (2,457,000), “Naturally” (1,949,000) and “Who Says” (1,947,000).

The Top Five: “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton holds at #1 for the fifth week in its 17th week on the chart. This is its ninth week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #5 (184K)… Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors” jumps from #3 to #2 in its 16th week on the chart. This is its eighth week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #10 (131K)…“Get Lucky” by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams jumps from #4 to #3 in its seventh week on the chart. This is its third week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #4 (190K)…“Just Give Me A Reason” by P!nk featuring Nate Ruess drops from #2 to #4 in its 16th week on the chart. This is its 12th week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #8 (150K)… “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly holds at #5 for the second week in its 35th week on the chart. This is its sixth week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #3 (196K).

The Second Five: “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams jumps from #11 to #6 in its seventh week on the chart. This is Thicke’s first top 10 hit; the 11th for T.I.; the sixth for Williams. Digital sales rank: #1 (229K)…Selena Gomez’s “Come & Get It” dips from #6 to #7 in its eighth week on the chart. This is its fourth week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #7 (158K)…Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive” rebounds from #9 to #8 in its 40th week on the chart. This is its seventh week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #6 (158K)… “I Love It” by Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX drops from #7 to #9 in its 18th week on the chart. This is its sixth week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #11 (114K)…“Stay” by Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko drops from #8 to #10 in its 17th week on the chart. This is its 16th week in the top 10. Digital sales rank: #16 (84K).

Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man” dips from #10 to #11, ending a 16-week run in the top 10. Mars’ new “Treasure” leaps from #36 to #25 in its third week. The cheery ditty, which evokes the pop/R&B sound of the early to mid-1980s, is a cinch to make the top 10. (Mars was born in October 1985. Perhaps he heard it in the womb.)

“We Own It (Fast & Furious)” by 2 Chainz & Wiz Khalifa vaults from #61 to #16 in its second week. The song is from the Fast & Furious 6 soundtrack, which jumps from #32 to #25 in its second week on The Billboard 200. The song is vying to become 2 Chainz’s second top 10 hit; his first as a lead artist. He was featured on A$AP Rocky’s “F**kin’ Problems.” It’s vying to become Wiz Khalifa’s sixth top 10 hit. Digital sales rank: #2 (208K).

Miguel has a featured credit on two songs in this week’s top 20: Mariah Carey’s “#Beautiful,” which jumps from #20 to #17 in its fourth week, and J. Cole’s “Power Trip,” which jumps from #21 to #20 in its 16th week (matching its highest ranking to date).

Anna Kendrick’s “Cups (Pitch Perfect’s When I’m Gone)” jumps from #30 to #27 its 23rd week. The song tops the 1 million mark in digital sales this week…Jason Derulo lands his sixth top 30 hit as “The Other Side” jumps from #37 to #30 in its seventh week…Luke Bryan’s “Crash My Party” jumps from #41 to #31 in its eighth week. The song has already climbed as high as #18.

Maroon 5’s “Love Somebody” jumps from #54 to #37 in its second week. Rick Springfield reached #5 in May 1984 with a different song titled “Love Somebody.” Two of the four singles from Overexposed have used recycled titles. “One More Night” was previously the title of a Phil Collins #1 smash from 1985.

“I Need Your Love” by Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding jumps from #51 to #42 in its seventh week…The Band Perry’s “Done.” jumps from #59 to #51 in its 12th week. The song has climbed as high as #46…Jake Owen’s “Anywhere With You” jumps from #62 to #55 in its 11th week.

“Crazy Kids” by Ke$ha featuring will.i.am is the week’s top new entry at #59. It’s from Ke$ha’s second studio album, Warrior, which was released in December…Randy Houser’s “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” jumps from #69 to #62 in its fourth week… “Play Hard” by David Guetta featuring Ne-Yo & Akon jumps from #76 to #64 in its second week…Capital Cities’ “Safe And Sound” jumps from #81 to #74 in its fifth week.

Kelly Clarkson’s “People Like Us” leaps from #97 to #77 in its third week… “Wit Me” by T.I. featuring Lil Wayne jumps from #92 to #80 in its second week…Easton Corbin’s “All Over The Road” jumps from #89 to #81 in its fourth week…Brett Eldredge’s “Don’t Ya” jumps from #95 to #83 in its second week.

Danielle Bradbery’s version of The Judds’ “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout The Good Old Days)” is the week’s second-highest new entry at #89. The Judds never cracked the Hot 100 (!), but the mother-daughter duo amassed 14 #1 hits on Hot Country Songs between 1984 and 1989. This was one of them. Bradbery is a contestant on The Voice.

Keith Urban’s “Little Bit Of Everything” re-enters the chart at #91…Billy Currington’s “Hey Girl” re-enters the chart at #93. The song has climbed as high as #75… Tyler Farr’s third single“Redneck Crazy” debuts at #95…Justin Moore’s “Point At You” debuts at #97…Justin Moore’s ”Point At You” debuts at #97…Gloriana’s “Can’t Shake You” re-enters the chart at #98. The song has already climbed to #83…“Ready” by Fabolous featuring Chris Brown re-enters the chart at #100. The song has already climbed to #93.

Ellie Goulding’s “Lights” tops the 4 million mark in digital sales this week. It’s the fifth best-selling digital hit by a British female solo artist. It trails Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” (7,888,000), “Someone Like You” (5,576,000) and “Set Fire To The Rain” (4,552,000) and Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love” (4,589,000).

Rihanna’s “Diamonds” tops the 3 million mark in digital sales this week. It’s Rihanna’s 11th 3 million-seller, which extends her lead as the artist with the most 3-million-sellers in digital history. Bruno Mars, Fergie and will.i.am are tied for second place, with nine each. (The tallies for Fergie and will.i.am include, in each case, six Black Eyed Peas hits). Katy Perry, Lil Wayne and Kanye West are next in line, with eight 3 million-sellers.

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” tops the 3 million mark in digital sales this week. The song first appeared on the band’s 1974 album Second Helping, which makes it the oldest recording to sell 3 million digital copies. The only other recording from the 1970s to achieve this feat is Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which first appeared on the band’s 1975 album A Night At The Opera. It is up to 3,362,000 in digital sales.